Contactor Duct Routing for Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing design of contactors and load feeders impairs access and visibility due to the routing of additional lines through the central and edge areas, making the design aesthetically unpleasing and functionally inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A duct is introduced into the central area of the contactor, extending from one edge area to the other, allowing additional lines to be routed through it, which can be covered by a flap, and is preferably arranged parallel to the side surfaces but closer to one side surface than the other, improving accessibility and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional lines are routed through the central area and edge area, then electrical connections are established, but access and visibility to the contactor are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into functional zones: a central area for the duct and actuating mechanism, and edge areas for terminal access. This segmentation allows cables to be routed through the duct without obstructing the edge area terminals, resolving the contradiction between electrical connection reliability and operational accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
A duct is introduced as an intermediary structure to guide additional lines from the edge areas through the central area to the opposite edge areas. This mediator enables cable routing without direct occupation of the central operational space, maintaining both electrical connectivity and access to contactor components
2Reliability
If additional lines are routed through the additional device, then electrical connections are established, but the design becomes aesthetically unpleasing and access is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing function is extracted from the additional device and relocated to a dedicated duct structure. This extraction preserves the aesthetic appearance of the additional device and contactor housing while maintaining the necessary electrical connections through the separate duct pathway
3Ease of manufacture
If the duct is arranged centrally, then cable routing is simplified, but access to the plunger is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is positioned asymmetrically within the central area, offset from the plunger's location. This asymmetric arrangement allows the duct to handle cable routing efficiently while leaving the plunger accessible from the front, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and operational accessibility
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Contactor (1) includes main connector surfaces laying opposite to one another and side surfaces laying opposite to one another. The operating side includes a raised central area and two edge areas (16, 16') which border the central area on both sides of the central area. The edge areas border the main connector areas and are connected to the central area via an additional connector area. A conductor channel, extending from one of the edge areas to the other edge area, is introduced in a central area of the operating side. Contactor comprises a housing including a mounting side, an operating side, two main connector surfaces and two side surfaces. The operating side is laid opposite the mounting side and is connected to the mounting side via the main connector surfaces and the side surfaces. The main connector surfaces lies opposite one another and the side surfaces lies opposite one another. The operating side includes a raised central area and two edge areas which border the central area on both sides of the central area. The edge areas border the main connector areas and are connected to the central area via an additional connector area. Main terminals are connected to the load contacts of the contactor. They include main receptacle openings into which main conductors are feedable from the main connector surface. Additional terminals, by which additional conductors are connectable to the contactor, include additional receptacle openings into which the additional conductors are feedable from the additional connector surface. A conductor channel, extending from one of the edge areas to the other edge area, is introduced in the central area. An independent claim is included for a load branch circuit comprising the contactor, and an additional device (2) mechanically and electrically connected to one of the main connector surfaces of the contactor. The additional conductor is clamped in one of the additional terminals facing the additional device and is fed through the conductor channel. The contactor has a plunger accessible from the central area and arranged closer to the other side surface than to the one side surface.